Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has promulgated ordinance to provide admissions to students for medical and dental under-graduate and post graduate courses under Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) category. The ordinance was promulgated on the basis of an advice given by the Maharashtra Cabinet under Article 213 of Constitution. It provides reservations in favour of candidates belonging to SEBC classes from educational year 2019-20 and also for admissions to other educational courses including under-graduate courses requiring passing of NEET or any other National Entrance Test.

Background

The ordinance was necessitated following stay of Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on the 16% quota offered to the Maratha community under SEBC category for admission in this year's postgraduate medical courses. The high court in May 2019 had ruled that implementation of this reservation for Maratha community under SEBC quota was “unconstitutional” for this year’s admissions and will not be applicable to post-graduate medical admission process which had begun earlier.